Malnutrition at Hospital Admission-Contributors and Effect on Length of Stay: A Prospective Cohort Study From the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force.

BACKGROUND: In hospitals, length of stay (LOS) is a priority but it may be prolonged by malnutrition. This study seeks to determine the contributors to malnutrition at admission and evaluate its effect on LOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study conducted in 18 Canadian hospitals from July 2010 to February 2013 in patients ≥ 18 years admitted for ≥ 2 days. Excluded were those admitted directly to the intensive care unit; obstetric, psychiatry, or palliative wards; or medical day units. At admission, the main nutrition evaluation was subjective global assessment (SGA). Body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength (HGS) were also performed to assess other aspects of nutrition. Additional information was collected from patients and charts review during hospitalization. RESULTS: One thousand fifteen patients were enrolled: based on SGA, 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42%-48%) were malnourished, and based on BMI, 32% (95% CI, 29%-35%) were obese. Independent contributors to malnutrition at admission were Charlson comorbidity index > 2, having 3 diagnostic categories, relying on adult children for grocery shopping, and living alone. The median (range) LOS was 6 (1-117) days. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and disease-related factors and treatment, malnutrition at admission was independently associated with prolonged LOS (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62-0.86). Other nutrition-related factors associated with prolonged LOS were lower HGS at admission, receiving nutrition support, and food intake < 50%. Obesity was not a predictor. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition at admission is prevalent and associated with prolonged LOS. Complex disease and age-related social factors are contributors.

Decline in nutritional status is associated with prolonged length of stay in hospitalized patients admitted for 7 days or more: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Reducing length of stay (LOS) is a priority for hospitals but patients' decline in nutritional status may have a negative impact. The aims of the study were to assess the change in nutritional status during hospitalization and determine if its decline is associated with prolonged LOS. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study conducted in 18 Canadian hospitals. Subjective global assessment (SGA) and weight measurements were performed at admission and discharge. Patient information was collected at admission and extracted from the chart during hospitalization. Association between LOS and changes in SGA or weight loss ≥5% was tested using multivariate Cox PH approach. Results are expressed as hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% CI. RESULTS: 409 patients (53% male) with a LOS >7 days were analyzed. Patients' median (q1,q3) age was 68 years (58,79) and LOS was 11 days (8,17). At admission, 49% of patients were well nourished (SGA A), 37% were moderately malnourished (SGA B) and 14% were severely malnourished (SGA C). From admission to discharge, 34% remained well-nourished, 29% remained malnourished (SGA B or C), 20% deteriorated and 17% improved. Of the 409 patients, 373 had weight measurements at admission and discharge: 92 (25%) had ≥5% weight loss. Multivariate models showed that after adjusting for covariates, decline in nutritional status from SGA A to B/C or SGA B to C (HR: 0.62, CI: (0.44, 0.87); HR: 0.35, CI: (0.20, 0.62) respectively) and weight loss ≥5% (HR: 0.52; CI: 0.40, 0.69) were significantly associated with longer LOS. CONCLUSION: In-hospital decline in nutritional status as assessed by SGA or weight loss ≥5% is associated with prolonged LOS independently of factors reflecting demographics, living accommodations and disease severity. This suggests a role for nutrition care in reducing LOS.

The Canadian Home Total Parenteral Nutrition (HTPN) Registry: vitamin K supplementation and bone mineral density.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin K supplementation improves bone health, and its absence might be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). The authors aim to assess vitamin K supplementation practices in Canadian home parenteral nutrition (HPN) programs and their relationship with BMD. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 189 patients from the Canadian HPN registry. RESULTS: All 189 patients studied received M.V.I.-12, which does not contain vitamin K. Of those, 41.3% were supplemented with 10 mg of intravenous vitamin K (VK+) weekly, whereas the others did not receive vitamin K except via lipid emulsion (VK-). Short bowel syndrome accounted for 69% of VK+ and 46% of VK- patients. On univariate analysis, VK+ patients had substantially lower body mass index (BMI) and received lower bisphosphonate infusion than did VK-patients. There were no statistically significant differences in HPN calcium or lipid content, liver function test results, age, sex, or reason for HPN between the 2 groups. Patients who were VK+ had higher lumbar spine T scores and hip T scores than did VK-patients. General linear modeling analysis, adjusted for BMI, age, PN magnesium, PN phosphate, PN calcium, and bisphosphonate as possible predictors of BMD, showed a trend toward better hip T scores (P = .063) for VK+ patients compared with VK- patients. CONCLUSION: In HPN patients supplemented with vitamin K, the trend toward a better hip BMD compared with no supplementation suggests a role for vitamin K in preserving BMD. This requires further study.